Newcastle's Gael Bigirimana living the dream after escaping war-torn Burundi

The former Coventry midfielder hopes his story will inspire others as he looks to make a splash in the Premier League

Escape to victory: Gael Bigirimana has a remarkable story (Photo: Ian Horrocks)

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Newcastle midfielder Gael Bigirimana has revealed the miracle journey that took him from war-torn Africa to the Premier League.

And the boy from Burundi hopes his story will inspire other disadvantaged youngsters to make something of their lives.

Bigirimana, 20, may now have the world at his feet at St James’ Park.

But he had to flee his homeland as a refugee when he was only six years old - escaping a civil war after Kalashnikov-toting rebels took on Government forces.

“I don’t really know how I got out,” he said. “It’s hard to remember I was so young. All I know is that after four years I got to be reunited my mum.

“We had to get to a country that was safe and at first that was Uganda for us. For my mother it was England. “When I was ten, living in Coventry, my mother so she asked me and my brother to buy it at Asda.

“I crossed the road to the Coventry City academy. I heard a whisper in my head saying knock on the door. It said ‘go and train’.

“I’d always wanted to play football for a team. I needed two pounds to register though. I asked my mum and she thought I was lying at first.

“I met two scouts, Ray Gooding and Reece Brown. They said that they had to come and scout me at school. So I gave them my school name. But as I was jogging in happiness back home, they called me back and told me to come the next day.

“It’s a miracle. I have my faith. I believe in God. That strength will help me get to the top.”

Bigi, who has represented England at under-20 level, signed for the Tynesiders in 2012 after an impressive debut season for Coventry

Although he made 25 appearances last season, he has seen little action so far this term.

He said: “I am determined to be patient and stay here and work to get my place back. I am happy here.”

Bigirimana is one of twenty 20-year-old stars chosen by Kick It Out to help spread the word on equality and inclusion – as the anti-racist organisation celebrates its twentieth anniversary.

“It’s a great privilege to be part of the campaign,” he said. “Football is a sport that brings all kinds of nations and cultures together. Racism is a bad spirit that is trying to get inside of football.

“I try to get on with everyone and show respect to everyone. At the end of the day we are all human.

“As a kid I was once playing in a park in Coventry and some of my friends said ‘Don’t play with those kinds because they are racists. They will call you names.’

“I thought ‘So what?’.

“Yes, they called me names. But I stood there and eventually won them over. We eventually went to the same school. They got to know me. They came to respect me.

“Through football you can break down racist attitudes – big time.”

“It’s every African kid’s dream is to come to Europe or America. The reason I play football now is for my friends back in Africa and for all of the kids who were in my position when I was in Africa or who never thought I’d play in the Premier League.

“Yes I do miss them but I know that one day I will see them.”

Gael Bigiramana is an ambassador for Kick It Out’s ‘Next 20’ initiative to mark 20 years of campaigning. Read more at www.kickout.org.